Line-up (members)

Indhentet Af Døden Reviews

Undergang's debut album, Indhentet af Døden, was first released on tape, and subsequently only on vinyl and they have finally decided to release the album on CD format under Xtreem Music, after previously encountering numerous problems with the CD version.

The band has been touted by the label as one of the heaviest death metal band and it is easy to see (or hear) why. The opening track, Englemagersken, is a soft and calm piano instrumental track. Once the second track, Dødshymne, begins, it feels as if the intro track were put in place to throw the listener off guard as a heavily distorted riff marks the beginning of the madness, a 32 minute ride of Undergang's brand of death metal.

Torturdöd's undecipherable, low-pitched style of vocals are reminiscent of bands such as Grave Miasma. The heavy chugging present on almost all the songs create the foundation of the heaviness that is to be built upon by the rest of the rhythm sections. For example, the drums are also fully utilised to help in building up the climax in the music, such as at the 0:30 mark of Opslugt Af Mørket, where all other instruments are absent, leaving the listener to anticipate what's to come next. Influences from old school Swedish death metal bands are also present in his drumming style, such as on Evigt Lidende. Bassist Ondsind provides the low-end growl of the music, adding more of the "heaviness" effect to the already heavy-as-fuck music, such as on the title track Indhentet Af Døden, where the impact of his heavy plucking of the strings is prominent. His plucking style of playing certainly adds much more impact and is more suitable for the music of Undergang, compared to a picking style, which could have possibly added a more "crisp" effect instead and consequently reduce the impact of the music.

Throughout the album, Undergang throws curveballs at the listener through the usage of sudden shifts in the time signature, such as on Dødshymne, where there is a sudden shift to a blast beats section at the 0:46 mark before going back to the previous tempo. The short jazz-like drum fill at the beginning of Opslugt Af Mørket also provides a quirky moment before the band breaks into their usual chaos. The short acoustic interlude, De Dødes Passage, provides a long-awaited break, but it makes the listener impatient for the next round of pillaging by the band, which makes the final moments of chaos all the sweeter.

The production quality of the album is top-notch, adding to the overall heaviness of the music. The crushing guitar tone, the heavy beats on the drums are all mixed equally well, complete with the layering of vocalist Torturdöd low-pitched growls over the chaos lying beneath.

With music like this, it's good news that it will finally be released on CD, for fans of death metal who unfortunately do not own tape or vinyl players! If I had heard of this album last year, it could have possibly been one of the contenders for album of the year!